This book is devoted to the explanation of freeway traffic congestion, a fact of life for many car drivers. Results of empirical observations of freeway congestion, which exhibit diverse complex spatiotemporal patterns including moving traffic jams, are analyzed. Empirical features of these reproducible freeway traffic patterns only recently sufficiently well understood are reviewed. In the first part, three-phase traffic theory can be found, which is the basis for a physical theory of traffic phenomena and its applications in engineering. In the second part, the empirical spatiotemporal patterns are examined and, finally in parts III and IV, the mathematical model and the engineering applications are addressed. The Physics of Traffic addresses researchers and practitioners alike.

From the reviews:

"For the analysis of complex spatiotemporal behaviour of traffic on motorways Kerner's book severs as an important basis for freeway traffic science that can be valuable for traffic scientists and engineers in solving many tasks in traffic engineering." (Hartmut Keller, tec-Traffic Engineering and Control International Journal of Traffic Management and Transportation Planning 2005, vol. 46, page 72-73)

"I commend Boris Kerner on his pioneering research on a new traffic theory... [This] is the first book I have read that offers detailed discussions about traffic congestion on freeways." --Henry Lieu, in Physics Today, November 2005

"Key topic of the book is the description of empirical spatiotemporal behaviour of traffic based on the Kerner's three-phase traffic theory. The content of the book is based on research work, which Kerner has performed ... . The comprehensive bibliography ... is impressive whereby they are referred to almost solely as reference numbers in the text. ... Kerner's book serves as an important basis for freeway traffic science that can be valuable for traffic scientists and engineers in solving many tasks in traffic engineering." (Hartmut Keller, tec-Traffic Engineering and Control, Vol. 46 (2), 2005)

"Boris Kerner presents in his book an in-depth and comprehensive presentation of his three-phase theory of freeway traffic flow. ... It might well mark a milestone in the long-lasting discussion on modeling of freeway traffic flow. ... The book is didactically very well written, it guides the reader through the material by providing figurative descriptions whenever possible before diving into mathematics. Every chapter starts and ends with summaries ... ." (Peter Vortisch, IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine, June, 2006)